Heathrow vote - as it happened: Theresa May hopes to get Commons approval of third runway expansion

Follow all the latest updates from Westminster, as they happened

Protestors lay down on lobby of Houses of Parliament to protest Heathrow expansion

MPs have backed a crucial vote on approving a third runway at Heathrow airport after years of delays on the highly contentious issue.

It follows Theresa May’s decision to give the expansion the green light but Boris Johnson, the foreign secretary, who has been a staunch opponent of the plans, came under mounting pressure when it emerged he had jetted off to Afghanistan to dodge the vote.

The government secured a comfortable victory on Monday evening, as Labour MPs were given a free vote on the issue and the SNP decided to abstain.

See below for live updates

Key Points

• MPs back expansion plans for Heathrow by massive majority
• Boris Johnson faces calls to resign after jetting off to Afghanistan to dodge Heathrow vote
• Part of parliament locked down as protestors stage 'lie in' over expansion plans
• Chris Grayling clashes with climate change experts over dire warning of impact of airport expansion
• Cabinet secretary Sir Jeremy Heywood takes leave of absence for cancer treatment

[25 June 2018 10:56 · Ashley Cowburn]

[25 June 2018 10:57 · Ashley Cowburn]

[25 June 2018 11:32 · Ashley Cowburn]

Speaking to the London Evening Standard about his decision to be out of the country during the crucial vote on Heathrow, Boris Johnson said: “My resignation would have achieved absolutely nothing."

[25 June 2018 11:38 · Ashley Cowburn]

[25 June 2018 11:45 · Ashley Cowburn]

Here's Boris Johnson's original pledge to anti-Heathrow activists when he was elected to his constituency seat.

[25 June 2018 11:52 · Ashley Cowburn]

The Foreign Office are still refusing to tell journalists where the Foreign Secretary is off on his travels later today, citing security reasons.

[25 June 2018 11:53 · Ashley Cowburn]

[25 June 2018 12:04 · Ashley Cowburn]

[25 June 2018 12:07 · Ashley Cowburn]

Mr Corbyn denied that Labour MPs were being given a free vote due to union pressure, saying: "I have had no contact from Unite leadership at all on this issue.

"Unite, as a union, does support the expansion of Heathrow. I have my concerns, and I have expressed them and therefore will be voting against the expansion of Heathrow."

[25 June 2018 12:12 · Ashley Cowburn]

Before the Heathrow debate takes place today (the vote is scheduled for around 10pm) ministers are also expected to submit three written statements in the Commons. One is on childhood obesity, another the haulage Bill, and a third on Personal Independence Payments.

Two urgent questions have also been granted by the Speaker.